Obituary for Linda Jean Havlin
Linda Jean Havlin passed away on May 9, 2019, in Chicago, Illinois. Her death was the result of severe injuries sustained from being struck by a car when out walking her beloved cavalier, Louie, on a beautiful spring day. Her final hours were spent in the presence of her greatest achievement and love of her life, her son Todd W. Boulis, as well as being comforted throughout by a number of caring friends and her former husband of 34 years, Paul Boulis.
Linda was born to John and Rita (Sullivan) Havlin of Wellesley, Massachusetts on June 18, 1950. She graduated from Wellesley High School in 1968 and then attended Manhattanville College before transferring to Colgate University. She was one of the first 50 women graduates in the Colgate class of 1972. She was a graduate of the Harvard University School of Public Health Executive Program in Health Policy in 1981 and received her MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in 1984.
Linda began her career with the Harvard Community Health Plan, and then joined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts working on health reform, public policy and HMO development. She moved to Chicago in 1978 to become the first female Chief of Staff to the President of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and went on to lead the organization’s Strategy and Planning Division. She joined Hewitt Associates, a worldwide employee benefits consulting firm, in 1985, ultimately becoming a partner and continued until 1997. She then joined William Mercer from 1997-2010. As a Worldwide Partner at Mercer, Linda led the Midwest Health and Benefits Practice, was a member of the global leadership team, head of global research and specialty practices, and the U.S. leader for health reform. She retired from Mercer in 2010 as the National Consulting and Intellectual Capital Leader.
Linda held many positions with non-profit organizations. She served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Writers Theater in Glencoe, Illinois from 2008-2013. She was a member of UNICEF’s Midwest Regional Board from 2014-2017, serving on their gala committee and Chicago Humanitarian Awards committee. She served on the Board of PAWS Chicago and as a volunteer, reflecting her love of pets. She was a founding member of Impact Grants Chicago, a women’s philanthropic organization that gives transformative grants to Chicago based non profit organizations and where Linda held a leadership position, chairing a grant review committee. To date, Impact Grants has donated over $2.5 million. Linda served as the assistant manager for the North Shore Exchange’s Michigan Avenue non-profit luxury consignment store where 100% of the profits are donated to Chicago area charities . Since its inception they have provided over $1.5 million in grants to human services for children and women below the poverty line. Additionally, she volunteered at The Art Institute of Chicago as a docent.
Linda was a very proud graduate of Colgate University, and was honored when her son chose to attend there, where he played on the lacrosse team for four years, graduating in 2010. Linda took immense joy in participating in CULTA, the Colgate University Lacrosse Tailgate Association, which reigned at all home and away games; she published their first cookbook which the Colgate “lax” families continue to use. She was an active member of the Alumnae Leadership Council at Colgate from 2007-2011, and served on the Steering Committee of the Society of Families. She received a Maroon Citation in recognition of her outstanding volunteer service. Linda was honored to be chosen as a Trustee for the University and served in that capacity from 2011-2017.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents Rita and John Havlin. She is survived by her beloved and cherished son Todd W. Boulis of Los Angeles, her sister Ann Macfarland of Dataw Island, SC and her nieces Kristen Kirkland of Van Alstyne, TX and Sarah Travers of Mystic, CN.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made in her name to either PAWS Chicago or Impact Grants Chicago.
Paws Chicago
Impact Grants Chicago
Memorial Service Monday, June 3, 4 p.m., at Fourth Presbyterian Church, North Michigan Avenue at East Delaware Place, Chicago. Please visit LINDA HAVLIN BOOK OF MEMORIES, https://memorials.chapelc.com/linda-havlin/3829391/index.php, to express your thoughts or memories in the online guest book and where service information will be updated. Arrangements by CENTRAL CHAPEL-Chicago, Robert J. Moynihan & Co., 773-581-9000 or 312-944-6060.
Linda was born to John and Rita (Sullivan) Havlin of Wellesley, Massachusetts on June 18, 1950. She graduated from Wellesley High School in 1968 and then attended Manhattanville College before transferring to Colgate University. She was one of the first 50 women graduates in the Colgate class of 1972. She was a graduate of the Harvard University School of Public Health Executive Program in Health Policy in 1981 and received her MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in 1984.
Linda began her career with the Harvard Community Health Plan, and then joined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts working on health reform, public policy and HMO development. She moved to Chicago in 1978 to become the first female Chief of Staff to the President of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and went on to lead the organization’s Strategy and Planning Division. She joined Hewitt Associates, a worldwide employee benefits consulting firm, in 1985, ultimately becoming a partner and continued until 1997. She then joined William Mercer from 1997-2010. As a Worldwide Partner at Mercer, Linda led the Midwest Health and Benefits Practice, was a member of the global leadership team, head of global research and specialty practices, and the U.S. leader for health reform. She retired from Mercer in 2010 as the National Consulting and Intellectual Capital Leader.
Linda held many positions with non-profit organizations. She served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Writers Theater in Glencoe, Illinois from 2008-2013. She was a member of UNICEF’s Midwest Regional Board from 2014-2017, serving on their gala committee and Chicago Humanitarian Awards committee. She served on the Board of PAWS Chicago and as a volunteer, reflecting her love of pets. She was a founding member of Impact Grants Chicago, a women’s philanthropic organization that gives transformative grants to Chicago based non profit organizations and where Linda held a leadership position, chairing a grant review committee. To date, Impact Grants has donated over $2.5 million. Linda served as the assistant manager for the North Shore Exchange’s Michigan Avenue non-profit luxury consignment store where 100% of the profits are donated to Chicago area charities . Since its inception they have provided over $1.5 million in grants to human services for children and women below the poverty line. Additionally, she volunteered at The Art Institute of Chicago as a docent.
Linda was a very proud graduate of Colgate University, and was honored when her son chose to attend there, where he played on the lacrosse team for four years, graduating in 2010. Linda took immense joy in participating in CULTA, the Colgate University Lacrosse Tailgate Association, which reigned at all home and away games; she published their first cookbook which the Colgate “lax” families continue to use. She was an active member of the Alumnae Leadership Council at Colgate from 2007-2011, and served on the Steering Committee of the Society of Families. She received a Maroon Citation in recognition of her outstanding volunteer service. Linda was honored to be chosen as a Trustee for the University and served in that capacity from 2011-2017.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents Rita and John Havlin. She is survived by her beloved and cherished son Todd W. Boulis of Los Angeles, her sister Ann Macfarland of Dataw Island, SC and her nieces Kristen Kirkland of Van Alstyne, TX and Sarah Travers of Mystic, CN.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made in her name to either PAWS Chicago or Impact Grants Chicago.
Paws Chicago
Impact Grants Chicago
Memorial Service Monday, June 3, 4 p.m., at Fourth Presbyterian Church, North Michigan Avenue at East Delaware Place, Chicago. Please visit LINDA HAVLIN BOOK OF MEMORIES, https://memorials.chapelc.com/linda-havlin/3829391/index.php, to express your thoughts or memories in the online guest book and where service information will be updated. Arrangements by CENTRAL CHAPEL-Chicago, Robert J. Moynihan & Co., 773-581-9000 or 312-944-6060.